Deulofeu off the mark with winner for Milan

Gerard Deulofeu scored his first goal for AC Milan with what proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina yesterday.

The winger, currently on loan at the San Siro from Everton until the end the season, had already made an impact at his new club by laying on the winner against Bologna earlier this month and he went one better in an important game against La Viola.

Reader Comments (40)

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Brian Porter 1Posted
20/02/2017 at
06:59:00

I watched this and must say Geri played very well. His goal was a bit of magic, scored from a central position just outside the box. I still think he has a lot to offer for us if he is coached to play the Koeman way. I certainly don't think Koeman gave him the kind of sustained, confidence-boosting run in the team that mercurial players like him need.

Doubt he'll want to come back if he continues to start and do well in Milan.

Colin Glassar 4Posted
20/02/2017 at
07:35:00

Agree Sam. Milan is Milan and all that entails.

Neil Wood 5Posted
20/02/2017 at
07:52:20

It's an absolute travesty that this boy is not donning the blue of Everton still.

Andy Meighan 6Posted
20/02/2017 at
07:59:03

Neil (#5). It's not a travesty at all. He's had chance after chance and hasn't taken them. He's shown fleeting glimpses of what might have been but that's it. He's never been able to produce it consistently in the Premier League and I doubt he ever will. Anyway, last time I looked, we were doing alright without him.

Phil Sammon 7Posted
20/02/2017 at
08:13:34

Yeah, one senior goal in 419 days... what a superstar!

Tony Abrahams 8Posted
20/02/2017 at
08:24:26

Like Brian (#1) says, the goal was scored with him picking up the ball from a central position. Did he play out wide, Brian, or was he free to roam? Something quite a few ToffeeWebbers were saying looked like the position that would suit this kid most?

Dave Pritchard 9Posted
20/02/2017 at
08:56:00

Player we've released on loan scores and suddenly it is the worst decision in the world. Longer term views needed.

James Morgan 10Posted
20/02/2017 at
09:07:19

Koeman doesn't want him so the better he does for Milan the more we can ask for, unless a fee has already been agreed.

John Hammond 11Posted
20/02/2017 at
09:34:00

He plays/played centrally for Spain U21s didn't he? I think that's his best position.

Kevin Gillen 12Posted
20/02/2017 at
09:47:39

Callum Dyson got two for Grimsby Town on Saturday! Great goal from Deulofeu and I would like to see him back in an Everton shirt but I can't see it. The truth is that Champions League football is far easier to find on the continent than it is in England.

Tony Abrahams 13Posted
20/02/2017 at
09:49:00

Dave (#9), longer term views are definitely needed, which is why I think that your post is a bit premature!

Keith Monaghan 14Posted
20/02/2017 at
10:01:26

One swallow doesn't make a summer  Ashley Williams scored against Arsenal!

Flatters to deceive  always has done, always will do.

Derek Thomas 15Posted
20/02/2017 at
10:12:43

The report tells of Dels' winner, who scored AC's equaliser and the oppositions scorer; what it doesn't say is who gave the ball to that scorer on a plate. Therein lies the problem.

1 min; gives it away, 1 min; scores the winner, 88mins; of total meh, with some arm flapping and whinging thrown in.

He 'might' mature in 6 or 7 years into a decent No 10, because there is a player in there. Somebody down the track might take a chance, get lucky and 'find' a little gem... or not.

I don't count U21 games, but how many managers is this now?

Barry Williams 16Posted
20/02/2017 at
11:46:34

He is sucking his thumb in the photo, that is just not the Everton way!!!

Interesting one with Deulofeu. Would I like to see him back at Everton? Yes! Would I be perplexed and frustrated if he was sold? No! There in-lies the enigma that is Deulofeu.

He can be amazing, have good runs of form, remember all the assists for Lukaku? But, can be equally as frustrating in not chasing back when he has lost the ball, going to ground too easily, gesticulating at officials when he should be busting a gut to get the ball back etc. It is not a want of talent or a football brain, but the problem lies in his application of that talent me thinks!

As mentioned, he is young, but a number of managers have already let him go. I think, and I may be wrong, that he just isn't a Koeman type player. I would have also liked to have seen him in the Barkley role when Barkley was off form (it might have done both players good, for different reasons, it might not of) as he has played quite extensively as a central player. Time will tell.

If he plays well at Milan, he may not want to come back, we sell for a good price. If he does come back, we have a player that has something to prove, never a bad thing. If he turns out to be inconsistent, well many thought that anyway. Either way, win win Everton.

He could have proven useful for Everton coming off the bench but, in the current system, does he have what Koeman requires of his attacking players given the roles Lookman, Mirallas and Barkley have taken up? Also, he may have not bought into the Koeman philosophy like the rest of the team appears to have!

Dave Abrahams 17Posted
20/02/2017 at
12:07:40

James (#10) I think Barcelona have an option to buy him for a certain fee at the end of this season, not sure if it is for â‚¬8M.

Barry Williams 18Posted
20/02/2017 at
12:37:01

Dave Abrahams (#17),

I am basing this on just memory, so I might be very wide of the mark, in fact totally incorrect, but I seem to recall that the option to buy him back was only in the first season of his contract. Again, hands up, I may be totally wrong!

Brian Furey 19Posted
20/02/2017 at
13:13:05

They can buy him back after the 2nd season (this year) for 㾸M but they can't sell him on then for another season just to make a quick profit.Geri Barca deal

I think there are a lot of players like this including our own Lennon and maybe Pienaar at Spurs where they look good at the start when they move to a new club and then they lose their eagerness to impress. Geri looked great when he first came to us and then again when we signed him the 2nd time but his temperament and attitude normally means he gives up to easy when defenders know how to handle him.

I would like to have him as a luxury player on the bench to use sparingly to change a game but I don't think he wants that role any more and I'd say he would much prefer to stay in the warmer climate of Milan with his girlfriend about to have a baby I think.

Martin Nicholls 20Posted
20/02/2017 at
13:24:15

Dave/Barry  Barca's option extended beyond one season but it was reported that there was something in the contract to prevent them taking him back then immediately selling him on. I think they have to keep him for a year if they exercise the option  probably not worthwhile for them given his wages and the fact that little or no game time is likely to reduce his market value.

Martin Nicholls 21Posted
20/02/2017 at
13:25:41

Sorry! Brian beat me to it!

Minik Hansen 22Posted
20/02/2017 at
13:37:32

If he is to come back, I think we need to finish at least in 7th place and with a prospect of European football.

That in place, with a tight schedule next season with cup games included, we're gonna need that kind of caliber on the bench... and still there is a whole summer transfer window for the likes of Walsh and Koeman.

Tom Bowers 23Posted
20/02/2017 at
13:46:02

I have to agree with Brian â€“ some players do shine when they first start with a new club but tend to fade as we know only too well because I am sure Everton have had more than their fair share of failures. Deulofeu is a exciting player and a crowd pleaser but inconsistent which, in the Premier League, is costly.

To survive in the Premier League, your whole squad has to be able to play for 90 minutes and wide players must be able to defend reasonably well, which Delboy couldn't do. Lennon does defend well but lacks the offensive prowess he used to have in his early Spurs days.

Good luck to Delboy in Serie A and I for one would like to see him do well but cannot see him back at Goodison.

Brian Furey 24Posted
20/02/2017 at
14:04:18

Talking about qualifying for Europe via 7th (or 5/6th) place, I was looking at West Ham's matches last season and it's a lot of qualifying matches to be played from early July onwards. I think there was 3 qualifying round and then a playoff round before the group stages so there will be an early pre-season. It would be interesting as we could meet AC Milan as they seem to be looking at Europa League football next season.

Nicholas Ryan 25Posted
20/02/2017 at
14:38:28

Barry (#16); I think the thumb-sucking is because his wife/girlfriend is due to give birth any day now.

Brian Furey 26Posted
20/02/2017 at
14:44:17

Why do so many players seem to kiss their wrist like Rat Boy does?

Tom Bowers 27Posted
20/02/2017 at
15:27:28

Most players love to pose in some way as they know they are on world wide TV. Some actions are okay and some are just plain inane.

Timmie used to punch the corner flag and we loved it. Beagrie used to do the somersaults and we loved that too.

As for a return at the end of the season, well he may be a useful squad member if we're in Europe next season.

Anthony Dwyer 29Posted
20/02/2017 at
15:36:10

Depending on how long Geri has on his deal, we should consider re-loaning him out.

Loan deals to clubs like AC Milan can only be a good thing, if he had said in January he'd be gone until May 2018, we could bring back an absolute world beater.

Barry Williams 30Posted
20/02/2017 at
15:54:53

Nicholas Ryan (#25),

Yes Nicholas, I guessed that, otherwise he may need to undergo some serious psychological tests! I am a grumpy miserable git who hates to see footballers do stupid dances or be overly overt in their affectations. Yes, a traditionalist I am, a fist pumped in the air to the home crowd, 2 fingers to the away crowd Ã la Kevin Sheedy, a shirt whizzed around ones bonce Ã la Duncan Ferguson, a post outboxed by a Cahill etc etc.

A thumb sucked! nah!

Barry Williams 31Posted
20/02/2017 at
16:04:06

Brian Furey (#19) & Martin Nicholls (#20),

Thanks for enlightening us all on that, I didn't place a lot of faith in what my memory was recalling about it.

I guess £12 million seemed a lot at the time, before all the fees went wildly inflated!

Alan Bodell 32Posted
20/02/2017 at
16:21:14

All his games for Milan have been televised, I missed last night but saw the others and he looks made for Seria A and he has licence to roam all over the front doing well and Milan right now are weakened by a lack of players, both squad size and suspensions but from his first game he squashed the rumour that he couldn't last the full 90 so it all bodes well for him and us thankfully as he deserves it.

Tony Rio 33Posted
20/02/2017 at
18:29:33

Brian (#1)  I don't agree, mate.

Andy (#6) well said. Koeman had a good look at him all through pre-season, trying him in different positions, giving him every chance. I still think he likes him and wants to give him a run in a top side.

We can't carry passengers at the moment, and I'm afraid Geri was a luxury player we couldn't afford. But I don't think his Everton career is over, and more importantly, I don't think Koeman does.

Look at the facts, he's our player on loan getting game time at a top club (the speed of the game is less), by the time his loan spell ends Barca will no longer have any hold (be it cut of a transfer or by him back) and hopefully he'll be a better player.

Two options then; he's good enough to deserve a place in our squad, or, we sell him and get a good fee. Either way I wish him all the best and we will all be winners if he plays well.

Mike Gaynes 34Posted
20/02/2017 at
19:01:04

Barry (#30), here's another miserable old grumpy git who agrees with you.

The thumb-sucking celebration always looks stupid to me, but doing it with a glove on is truly ridiculous.

Emery didn't play Deulofeu at Sevilla because he didn't track back and play for the team. Koeman's seen the same deficiencies in his game. He's a very good player but he won't make it at Everton while Ronald Koeman is manager.

Alan Bodell @32, do you think he's trying harder for Milan? Willing to run more and work harder to impress the new manager to get his move? It will be interesting to see what Koeman thinks about him when his loan period is over.

I think Barca loaned him to us hoping he would develop into the player he could be and when they saw he wasn't they sold him to us but with buy back clauses. Here we are, loaning him out now hoping he will improve.

For us the fans, it's important we don't just look at his highlights of goals and assists and forget about all the other stuff he doesn't do in the years ahead.

Tony J Williams 40Posted
21/02/2017 at
12:14:42

The thumb-sucking shite always reminds me of Garcia from the pricks across the park.

I will always frown upon such shenanigans.

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